tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76863799511797910412018-03-19T12:09:51.728-07:00New England Parker Store UpdateA View From Behind the Counter at the Parker StoreThe New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-57705082274911556742017-07-21T09:42:00.000-07:002017-07-21T09:42:26.164-07:00One of Our Stores is Open 24 Hours a Day!If you visit one of our eight Parker Store locations, you will typically see that the hours of operation are 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. But, there is one place where you can directly purchase hydraulic, pneumatic, automation, hose &amp; fittings, instrumentation, filtration and valves at any given time. That “place” is our online e-Commerce website, HopeDirect.com.<br /><br />&nbsp;HopeDirect.com was established a few years ago so we could offer our customers a powerful online source for direct Parker purchases. You can search or browse through the $150 million in Parker components, make a purchase, and have them directly ship to you in 1-2 days. There is no need to wait four to six weeks for a factory order if the item is “in-stock”. Our website is easy to navigate and gives you access to this extensive inventory.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzXsGO8bQCQ/WXIuxG68I8I/AAAAAAAAAMI/kjucgb1nv2oqXEE_o7yfGH-WzpTSU9kYACLcBGAs/s1600/hose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>&nbsp;As for our <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/location-parkerstores.shtml" target="_blank">eight Parker Store locations</a> in Bangor ME, South Portland ME, Lewiston ME, Manchester NH, Fitchburg MA, Weymouth MA, Cranston RI, and North Haven CT, we still offer our customers over 3,000 parts and components to meet their “right now” requirements and experienced technicians for consultations. HopeDirect.com is simply another solution for OEM’s and MRO customers.<br /><br />&nbsp;If you have any questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact <a href="mailto:dtibbetts@thehopegroup.com" target="_blank">by email</a> (dtibbetts@thehopegroup.com). Meanwhile, visit <a href="http://www.hopedirect.com/">www.HopeDirect.com</a> and check it out!<br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzXsGO8bQCQ/WXIuxG68I8I/AAAAAAAAAMI/kjucgb1nv2oqXEE_o7yfGH-WzpTSU9kYACLcBGAs/s1600/hose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="513" height="127" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HzXsGO8bQCQ/WXIuxG68I8I/AAAAAAAAAMI/kjucgb1nv2oqXEE_o7yfGH-WzpTSU9kYACLcBGAs/s320/hose.jpg" width="320" /></a>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-56385797411938153512017-06-23T14:18:00.000-07:002017-06-23T14:18:06.493-07:00Our Parker Stores Offer SafetyWorks Training That Could Help You Avoid Dangerous Situations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAeNiLIUPsM/WU2C7y5yDaI/AAAAAAAAALo/WywycPWkCNQqrfectk8OCh3i9L9utiUlgCLcBGAs/s1600/Tony-Cantone-Hope-Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="53" data-original-width="53" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAeNiLIUPsM/WU2C7y5yDaI/AAAAAAAAALo/WywycPWkCNQqrfectk8OCh3i9L9utiUlgCLcBGAs/s1600/Tony-Cantone-Hope-Group.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br />Tony Cantone</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>President, The Hope Group</em></span><br /><br /><br />Safety is essential when dealing with daily work pressures and can sometimes be only thought about after an accident occurs. If you are purchasing a hose or running any fluids under pressure without all the relevant information, or under little regulation, it may result in dangerous consequences. Our ParkerStores are committed to helping you maintain a safer work environment by introducing you to <a href="http://blog.parker.com/what-is-safetyworks-training-and-why-is-it-important" target="_blank">Parker SafetyWorks</a>.<br /><br />Parker SafetyWorks is a collection of training sessions led by qualified instructors to make you aware of the importance of following hydraulic hose and fluid system operating practices to prevent damage and/or injury. I came across a recent blog post by Parker Hannifin that explains it in detail and the importance of the training. (<a href="http://blog.parker.com/what-is-safetyworks-training-and-why-is-it-important" target="_blank">view blog post</a>)<br /><br />Some of the topics include:<br /><br /><ul><li>Injection Injury</li><li>Personal Injury</li><li>Electricity</li><li>S.T.A.M.P (Size, Temperature, Application, Media, Pressure)</li></ul><br />We recently opened our eighth Parker Store in <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/north-haven-ct-parkerstore.shtml" target="_blank">North Haven, CT</a>. As part of our grand opening we held various seminars which included a well-attended SafetyWorks training session. Two to three times a year certified trainers from Parker Hannifin and The Hope Group will instruct these sessions at our main office in Massachusetts. Every so often, they will be held at our <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/location-parkerstores.shtml" target="_blank">branch locations</a> in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.<br /><br />If you have any questions about SafetyWorks, hydraulic hose or would like to find out if we have any upcoming training sessions, feel free to contact me at 508-393-7660 or <a href="mailto:tcantone@thehopegroup.com" target="_blank">by email</a>. (tcantone@thehopegroup.com).<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_1o6m9OrJ8/WU2Du5Tgb5I/AAAAAAAAALw/raAuI6sRBeMYbssBBWKRHKa3QAg762LnACEwYBhgL/s1600/safetyworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="661" height="53" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_1o6m9OrJ8/WU2Du5Tgb5I/AAAAAAAAALw/raAuI6sRBeMYbssBBWKRHKa3QAg762LnACEwYBhgL/s320/safetyworks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-74931591009217096842017-05-31T10:36:00.000-07:002017-05-31T10:38:51.013-07:00The Hope Group Celebrated Newly Established ParkerStore with Successful Open House & Technology Training Seminars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhPoFRfhahw/WNKYXgReCRI/AAAAAAAAALA/l74AHj9YNdMqyaK3zDnBnZNiFWKXIsoNwCPcB/s1600/donna-tibbetts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="53" data-original-width="53" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhPoFRfhahw/WNKYXgReCRI/AAAAAAAAALA/l74AHj9YNdMqyaK3zDnBnZNiFWKXIsoNwCPcB/s1600/donna-tibbetts.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br />Donna Tibbetts</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Operations &amp; Services&nbsp;Mgr.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em><br /></em></span><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em><br /></em></span><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">On May 10th, The Hope Group celebrated the establishment of its eighth Parker Store in North Haven Connecticut by conducting an Open House and Technology Seminars.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">The open house allowed hundreds of customers to view the expanded pneumatic, automation, and sealing product lines of The Hope Group. Like all of our Parker Store locations, North Haven offers hose assembly replacement services “while you wait” as well as tube fittings, quick couplings, valves, adapters, and other industrial products. (View more products by visiting <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/">www.TheParkerStore.com</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Over 50 engineers, technicians, and operators attended one (or more) of our four technology seminars that were led by Certified Trainers of Parker and The Hope Group. The workshops included Basics of Pneumatic Technology, Making Your Power Unit More Efficient, SafetyWorks Hydraulic Plumbing Safety, and Thread ID. (View upcoming seminars on our <a href="http://www.thehopegroup.com/solutions/technology-training.shtml" target="_blank">Technology Training</a> web page)</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">We look forward to having Connecticut Fluid Power’s past customers rely on The Hope Group to provide them with quality hydraulic, pneumatic, automation, and sealing products, along with our sales engineers’ industrial expertise. If you have any inquiries, feel free to <a href="mailto:dtibbetts@thehopegroup.com" target="_blank">contact me by email</a>. (dtibbetts@thehopegroup.com)</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6mIav2miZ4/WS7-tcj5fzI/AAAAAAAAALQ/9Hp2qtyTL1sB8VfSDUMc-KXP92-Yf5cqQCEw/s1600/Pneumatic-Tech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6mIav2miZ4/WS7-tcj5fzI/AAAAAAAAALQ/9Hp2qtyTL1sB8VfSDUMc-KXP92-Yf5cqQCEw/s400/Pneumatic-Tech.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-8447345214661553382017-04-19T08:40:00.001-07:002017-04-26T13:45:20.851-07:00The Hope Group is Proud to Introduce Its Eighth Parker Store in North Haven CT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhPoFRfhahw/WNKYXgReCRI/AAAAAAAAALA/l74AHj9YNdMqyaK3zDnBnZNiFWKXIsoNwCPcB/s1600/donna-tibbetts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhPoFRfhahw/WNKYXgReCRI/AAAAAAAAALA/l74AHj9YNdMqyaK3zDnBnZNiFWKXIsoNwCPcB/s1600/donna-tibbetts.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br />Donna Tibbetts</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Operations &amp; Services&nbsp;Mgr.</em></span><br /><br /><br />May 10, 2017 will mark the official Open House and Technology Seminar event celebrating the establishment of The Hope Group’s eighth Parker Store in New England. Each of these eight locations is a stocking branch office of <a href="http://www.thehopegroup.com/" target="_blank">The Hope Group</a> and is co-located with a fully stocked Parker Store. Our customers have come to rely on the Parker Store for that “need it now” hose, fitting, or quick coupling. We offer a “while-you-wait” express hose assembly replacement service, which makes the Parker Store your first choice for emergency repairs.<br /><br />For those customers of Connecticut Fluid Power who continue to rely on them now that they are part of The Hope Group, they will find the expanded product line of hydraulic, pneumatic, automation, and sealing products to be a real advantage. The sales engineers and customer service team can provide expert component selection service and assistance with designing and building sub-systems for a wide range of industrial purposes.<br /><br />You can learn more about the <a href="http://www.thehopegroup.com/openhouse/north-haven-parker-store-open-house.html" target="_blank">Technology Seminars</a> and the Open House by visiting the website.The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-47949908829579491892017-03-22T09:00:00.000-07:002017-03-22T09:12:42.765-07:00Parker Hannifin Celebrates 100 Years of Providing Motion Control Technologies to the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhPoFRfhahw/WNKYXgReCRI/AAAAAAAAAKs/MnnRDXLX4Xo8PQFRpDSx9sc4xnksVioTgCLcB/s1600/donna-tibbetts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yhPoFRfhahw/WNKYXgReCRI/AAAAAAAAAKs/MnnRDXLX4Xo8PQFRpDSx9sc4xnksVioTgCLcB/s1600/donna-tibbetts.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br />Donna Tibbetts</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Operations &amp; Services&nbsp;Mgr.</em></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17KUt8IJ2l0/WNKaW63gwPI/AAAAAAAAAKw/FA-TMDoKALsnsDNwg-pDy_4DabDcynkfgCEw/s1600/100-Parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17KUt8IJ2l0/WNKaW63gwPI/AAAAAAAAAKw/FA-TMDoKALsnsDNwg-pDy_4DabDcynkfgCEw/s200/100-Parker.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Parker Hannifin, a Fortune 250 global leader in motion control technologies, celebrated their 100th year anniversary on March 13, 2017. Originally called the Parker Appliance Company and founded by Arthur L. Parker, it began to develop and move forward with the help of his business partner Carl Klamm. <br /><br />The first patent that Parker acquired specifies a hydraulic device which regulates the speed of electric generators. One hundred years later, they have been granted over 8,000 patents. <br /><br /><i>“Our success is founded on fair dealing, hard work, coordination of effort, and quality products.” – Art Parker</i><br /><br />Parker’s technologies help hundreds of thousands of customers. They have more than 300 facilities, 13,000 independent distributors, over 3,000 <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/" target="_blank">retail stores</a>, and employ over 58,000 people globally. They are one of the largest motion control companies in the world and provide technologies that include aerospace, climate control, electromechanical, filtration, fluid and gas handling, hydraulics, pneumatics, process control, and sealing.<br /><br />Parker will celebrate their centennial with events throughout this year to honor distributors, customers, shareholders, and others that help Parker continue to be a motion control global leader.<br /><br />To learn more about the history of Parker, visit their <a href="http://solutions.parker.com/centennial" target="_blank">Centennial Website</a>. For more information on one of our Parker<i>Stores</i> in New England, visit our <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/" target="_blank">Parker Store website</a>.<br /><br />By the way, if you haven’t visited <a href="http://www.hopedirect.com/" target="_blank">HopeDirect</a> to purchase Parker products quickly, you really should try it. In the past few months we have added thousands of new products.<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">www.TheParkerStore.com</span></a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znSF7OyzEbU/WNKb5HUWTtI/AAAAAAAAAK0/vso4o4Nq63sJJhARqs8putCt4bqW7jkmwCEw/s1600/parker-store-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znSF7OyzEbU/WNKb5HUWTtI/AAAAAAAAAK0/vso4o4Nq63sJJhARqs8putCt4bqW7jkmwCEw/s1600/parker-store-sign.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-82159521452247314402017-03-03T08:05:00.001-08:002017-03-03T08:33:05.431-08:00New England Parker Stores Anticipate Spring 2017 Contractor Hose Special<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMutaH843DA/WJSdT3bmvKI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/KD5seXjfX28Iu95ywyDYKy74rwzNdeq4QCPcB/s1600/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMutaH843DA/WJSdT3bmvKI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/KD5seXjfX28Iu95ywyDYKy74rwzNdeq4QCPcB/s1600/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><b>Drew Swanton,</b> <span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">DSwanton@TheHopeGroup.com</span></span><br /><br /><br />It’s almost that time of year again when we offer our Spring Contractor Hose Special. This year we are featuring Jack Hammer Hose Assemblies and Black Premium Contractor's Water Hose at special pricing.<br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Jack Hammer Hose Assemblies</b><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NgIuDgTKnMQ/WLmaJ3ryA7I/AAAAAAAAAKM/1v7ivBKPpBUxpCC8Xf65JUCDUnEr0uORQCLcB/s1600/jackhammer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NgIuDgTKnMQ/WLmaJ3ryA7I/AAAAAAAAAKM/1v7ivBKPpBUxpCC8Xf65JUCDUnEr0uORQCLcB/s1600/jackhammer.jpg" /></a><i>Coupled with crimped universal type couplings on each end 300psi</i><br /><ul><li>Temperature Range: -40ºF to +212ºF (-40ºC to +100ºC)</li><li>Working Pressure: 300psi (1200psi Burst)</li><li>Crimped-on Universal Couplings Each End</li><li>RED EPDM Rubber - Stays Flexible In Temperature Extremes</li></ul><div><br /></div><ul></ul><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4uckBtKZnq0/WLmaJrwJmdI/AAAAAAAAAKI/97sUVXkH4Tw0zYARCO2MPWoDh2SdZDNmgCLcB/s1600/contractorhose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4uckBtKZnq0/WLmaJrwJmdI/AAAAAAAAAKI/97sUVXkH4Tw0zYARCO2MPWoDh2SdZDNmgCLcB/s1600/contractorhose.jpg" /></a><b>Black Premium Contractor’s Water Hose</b><br /><ul><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4uckBtKZnq0/WLmaJrwJmdI/AAAAAAAAAKI/97sUVXkH4Tw0zYARCO2MPWoDh2SdZDNmgCLcB/s1600/contractorhose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><li>Temperature Range: -40ºF to +180ºF (-40ºC to +82ºC)</li><li>Working Pressure: 125psi (500psi Burst)</li><li>Crimped-on Crush Resistant Nickel Plated Brass Ends</li><li>Male x Female Garden Hose Threaded Couplings</li><li>Black EPDM Rubber - Stays Flexible In Temperature Extremes</li></ul><div><br /></div><ul></ul><div>If you are interested in receiving more information about this special (or future Parker Store specials), contact me at 508-351-2706 or <a href="mailto:dswanton@thehopegroup.com">email me</a> and I will send you the <a href="mailto:dswanton@thehopegroup.com">eNewsletter</a> when the special pricing begins! (dswanton@thehopegroup.com)</div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-46841095678937597942017-02-03T07:18:00.001-08:002017-03-01T06:37:28.443-08:00Reducing Inventory of Parker Hydraulic Hose Maximizes Profitability and Safety <div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.328125px;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DMutaH843DA/WJSdT3bmvKI/AAAAAAAAAJw/kGd8Qv5HajY4AwK6ipg7zU3vlDR9gflIACLcB/s1600/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DMutaH843DA/WJSdT3bmvKI/AAAAAAAAAJw/kGd8Qv5HajY4AwK6ipg7zU3vlDR9gflIACLcB/s1600/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br />Drew Swanton, </span></strong><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">DSwanton@TheHopeGroup.com</span></div><br /><br />As companies continue to "Lean" out their operations, it has become increasingly important to minimize inventory. While this is a good technique for improving the bottom line, it does have its downsides. When it comes to fabricating hose assemblies, manufacturers and suppliers can’t perfectly predict which parts their customers will need and when. Solutions to this conundrum include methods like <a href="http://www.thehopegroup.com/solutions/custom-kitting.shtml" target="_blank">custom kitting</a> and <a href="http://www.ipowerne.com/products/ipower-vmi.shtml" target="_blank">vendor managed inventory</a>, both of which streamline the parts ordering process. However, these solutions don’t necessarily address the concerns of companies looking to maximize floor space and profitability in an increasingly challenging global marketplace. <br /><br />By minimizing the number of parts in your inventory, you also minimize the number of dollars wasted on the parts you don’t use. Primarily developed as a cost-saving measure for its customers, Parker’s <a href="https://www.hopedirect.com/departments?Filter=department.hose-and-fittings/product-type.hose/trade-name.globalcore/">GlobalCore</a> solution simplifies your hose inventory. The family of five hydraulic hoses covers diameters ¼” to 2” and working pressure ranges from 3,000 to 6,000 PSI, which—depending on hose diameter and working pressure—are compatible with either 43 Series or 77 Series fittings and exceed ISO 18752 performance specifications. <br /><br /><b>How Inventory Reduction Can Improve Safety</b><br /><br />By reducing the number of parts in your inventory, the potential for errors when matching parts for hose assemblies goes down with it. If your engineering and production staff are not educated on why it’s absolutely critical to use the <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/blog/pdf/Avoiding-Injection-Injuries.pdf" target="_blank">proper fitting</a> <span id="goog_1026535958"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1026535959"></span>for your hydraulic hose, then the incompatible hose/fitting pairing can leak, fail and even result fail in serious injury or even death. <br /><b><br /></b><b>Is Global Core the Right Solution For My Company?</b><br /><br />The cost-savings benefits I mention previously makes it a smart move for many companies. If you are not sure, customer service representatives at The Hope Group’s <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/location-parkerstores.shtml" target="_blank">Parker Store branch locations</a> can help determine if transitioning to Global Core is the right choice for you.<br /><br />In preparation for our customers making the transition to Parker’s Global Core, all of The Hope Group's Parker Store locations currently stock 797-TC hydraulic hose, which delivers 6,000 PSI constant working pressure. The outside diameter is nearly 30% smaller than SAE spiral and twice the impulse life. It can be purchased at the Parker Store branch location closest to you or ordered online through the <a href="https://www.hopedirect.com/departments?Filter=department.hose-and-fittings/product-type.hose/trade-name.globalcore/" target="_blank">Hope Direct</a> website. View more information on our <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/blog/reducing-inventory-of-parker-hydraulic-hose-maximizes-profitability-and-safety.shtml#hosechart" target="_blank">Hydraulic Hoses</a>.<br /><br />The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-73961682871211952912016-08-05T08:57:00.000-07:002016-08-05T08:57:14.199-07:00Unexpected Visit Is Just What the Customer Ordered<br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.3281px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Joe Kelly</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Fluid Connector Specialist</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Parker Hannifin</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This week was an exciting week for me. I got my first order. It feels great to finally be in the field, and being productive for the company. &nbsp;It has been a wonderful experience to train with Parker, but I’m really glad to finally have some more responsibilities, and a way to contribute.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the accounts that was given to me was a National Grid location, I have been trying to get in to see them, but I was having trouble coordinating a date with them. Eventually, after not being able to work something out I decided I would just drop in one day, and see if they happened to have time. As I pulled into the parking lot it was pouring rain. I parked the car, and reviewed all of the information I had available about the account, including sales history, contacts, &amp; past activities. When I was satisfied that I knew what I needed to know I ran through the rain to the front door, and it was out of order. Luckily, a man who worked in the building was able to lead me around to the side door to let me in. As I stood there dripping in the hallway, he asked who I needed to see, and led me back to the garage to find him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I got to the garage I introduced myself, and told him why I was there I almost expected him to be annoyed that I didn’t give him more notice, and how busy he always seemed on the phone. Fortunately for me he turned out to have some time, and was actually happy to see someone from The Hope Group, because their fitting inventory had been running low recently. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He introduced me to his staff, and gave me a tour of their facility. They have Parflex Division and Hose Products Division hose and fittings, some quick couplers, and TFD adapters. They also have two Crimpers: a <a href="http://www.thehopegroup.com/products/hose-crimpers.shtml">Parkrimp 1</a> that they used in the garage, and a <a href="http://www.thehopegroup.com/products/hose-crimpers.shtml">Minikrimp</a>that they used on their service vehicle. I noticed that they had plenty of hose so after they showed me around, I was able to take a closer look at their fitting and adapter inventory, and find out what they needed to restock. One of their mechanics, and I went through item by item, and decided what quantities they needed. After that we scheduled a time for me to train them on the crimping systems to ensure everyone in the facility is safely operating the equipment, and fabricating safe hose assemblies. Afterward I worked with Jim Wilson to get a quote to them, and then they responded with a purchase order. Finally, I put the order in with customer service.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It was really exciting to get my first order, and it has been exciting in general to be in the field. I’ve had to rely on myself to ask the right questions, and give people the correct information for the first time since I started working for Parker. It’s going to be a long journey to gain the level of knowledge &amp; competence of The Hope Group's sales team has, but that’s the goal, and I’m on my way.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Editor’s Note: Since all good things must come to an end, this article will be Joe Kelly’s final blog for The Hope Group’s Parker Stores. During his time at The Hope Group, Joe received the hands-on experience he will need to grow and succeed during his career at Parker. Everyone here at The Hope Group congratulates Joe and wishes him the best in his upcoming assignment with Parker.</span><o:p></o:p></i></div></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-20460300517179594262016-06-29T12:35:00.000-07:002016-06-29T12:35:22.038-07:00Adventures in Crimper Training<br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.3281px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Joe Kelly</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Fluid Connector Specialist</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Parker Hannifin</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">This past week brought another first for me. </span>I have officially provided my first crimper training. Luckily, thanks to the training I received at Hose Products Division, the tools and information local Connector Territory Manager, Bob Parent covered with me, and help from the Hope Group Connector sales team I was well prepared to do the job.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I opened the training with the Safety Works slideshow, and tried to make it clear that the goal of the training is to ensure that everyone leaves with the knowledge necessary to fabricate safe hose assemblies. People had warned me that the guys may not take it seriously, but luckily everyone seemed to pay attention &amp; take the training seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cf0MFigKf2o/V3QhYpv7GRI/AAAAAAAAAIA/f9XgagHL-98eTO0LkuHpyZxq8pGOhg2FQCKgB/s1600/part-number-breakdown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cf0MFigKf2o/V3QhYpv7GRI/AAAAAAAAAIA/f9XgagHL-98eTO0LkuHpyZxq8pGOhg2FQCKgB/s400/part-number-breakdown.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After the presentation I walked everyone through the catalog, explained the meanings behind lay line information, broke down the fitting part numbers and explained how each piece of the part # identifies a detail of the fitting. Bob provided me with 10643-4-6 so I could draw attention to the jump size and explain that the last two numbers are dash sizes and the port side is always listed first.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After that we went on to the actual demonstration, and everything went well. I was concerned that their bowl or dies may have been worn because the bowl was bone dry. So, before we started I put some lithium grease on it, and I checked the crimps with my calipers. They all came out within spec.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Training customers in the safe and proper use of a crimper was very satisfying. I hope to do a lot more training sessions.</div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-2235552305586362992016-05-24T06:05:00.003-07:002016-05-24T11:15:36.986-07:00Putting Thread ID Knowledge to Work<br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.3281px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Joe Kelly</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Fluid Connector Specialist</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Parker Hannifin</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A few weeks ago I unexpectedly had the opportunity to test my thread knowledge. I had set up a call with an account that Randy Marceau had asked me to see. My contact at the account explained to me when I arrived that one of his maintenance employees was working on a leak that was up in the ceiling. While he was up there making the repair, the battery had died on their Scissor lift.&nbsp; He was able to safely return to the ground, but he had no way of moving the lift out of the walkway because of the dead battery. What he decided to do next is where the trouble started.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Since he couldn’t drive the lift under its own power he decided to push it with a fork truck, and it worked. He managed to get the lift out of the walkway and push it all the way back to its storage room. The problem is that as he was pushing the lift along, one of the forks slipped underneath the lift where some hoses were routed. As the fork passed under the platform it crashed directly into a 90 degree swivel sheering off the port end and rendering the machine unusable. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The customer pulled the fitting off and it turned out to be a Parker Swivel from the Quick Coupling Division like the one pictured below. These swivels allow the hose to swivel in applications where the hose moves back and forth on a single plane in order to minimize stress on the hose. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8FbZiRuZ-uk/V0RNjewrbHI/AAAAAAAAAHo/kZsTOSAnZbUpAQ_dWzlpe-QFUeWImFzOwCLcB/s1600/parker-thread-id-kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8FbZiRuZ-uk/V0RNjewrbHI/AAAAAAAAAHo/kZsTOSAnZbUpAQ_dWzlpe-QFUeWImFzOwCLcB/s320/parker-thread-id-kit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span id="goog_2064971599"></span><span id="goog_2064971600"></span><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="MIK-1 Parker Metric I.D. Kit" style='width:104.25pt;height:104.25pt; flip:x;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\KRICHA~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg" o:title="MIK-1 Parker Metric I.D"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:90.75pt;height:71.25pt; visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\KRICHA~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.png" o:title="" croptop="1790f" cropbottom="9658f" cropleft="1513f" cropright="5690f"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://store.livhaven.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/photobooth/mik-1-parker-metric-i-d-kit_02.jpg" style='width:110.25pt;height:110.25pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\KRICHA~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg" o:title="mik-1-parker-metric-i-d-kit_02"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I had brought along my thread ID kit. The housing end of the fitting was clearly JIC 37⁰ flare. The other end turned out to be 3/8 NPT. The only thing that was left to find out was the size. I had some JIC hose fittings in the car so I went out to grab them, and I discovered that the Swivel was -6.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Parker and the Hope Group have specialists who can do this type of identification for you, but they also offer training which could help you or your employees learn how to identify fittings and threads on their own.</span><br /><b style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b><b style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the training class you will learn the 4 critical steps to identifying threads:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">1 – Determine if the thread is tapered or parallel<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">2 – Determine the pitch<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">3 – Determine the size<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">4 – Designate the thread<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally the training teaches you to pull all of that information together in step 4, in order to identify almost any thread you will come across. If you are interested in this training, you may <a href="http://www.thehopegroup.com/safety">register online</a> for the seminar taking place from 8:30AM to 12:30PM on<b> June 15, 2016</b> at The Hope Group's <a href="http://www.theparkerstore.com/fitchburg-ma-parkerstore.shtml">Parker Store</a> in Fitchburg, Mass. &nbsp;It will be led by experts from Parker in a hands-on training that covers inch and metric threads. Space is limited so be sure to register early!</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-71311369118277484192016-04-20T06:12:00.000-07:002016-04-20T06:12:45.711-07:00First Face to Face Sales Call Not What I Expected At All<br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.3281px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Joe Kelly</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Fluid Connector Specialist</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Parker Hannifin</span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"></div></div><br /><span style="line-height: 17pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 17pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, I have now conducted my first face to face sales call and it wasn’t really all that exciting. When my boss first presented me with a list of accounts he wanted me to contact, I was nervous and I didn’t know what to do at first. After talking to my mentor at Parker and some of the sales professionals here at The Hope group it became clear what I had to do and how I could start to dig into my 50 accounts.</span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started making phone call after phone call asking for the opportunity to visit with the accounts and after a while I realized I hadn’t gotten very far. But, just then I had a stroke of luck. I made two more phone calls and the next thing I knew I had two appointments made.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now that I had my day planned I organized all of my Marketing materials for Parker and The Hope Group. I reviewed the information and thought about the types of questions I’d be confronted with. I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth in &amp; get started.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My first call was nothing like what I had prepared myself for. The person I had scheduled to meet, met me at the front door and gave me only the time he had agreed to give. I tried my best to keep his attention, but he tapped away at his keyboard while I tried to explain the features and benefits of ToughShield 1000, the incredible new plating that Tube Fittings Divisions had developed. He looked up as I uttered the phrase, “1000 hours until red rust in the ASTM B117 Neutral Salt Spray test.” No response. Just a blank stare and a nod.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I began to realize that this wasn’t getting his attention so I began to ask him more questions. The short polite answer he offered didn’t give me much of anywhere to go and finally he gave me an answer that allowed me to understand the situation. He had a contract with his dealership network that stipulated that he had to buy from them in most situations, so the likelihood of becoming a big customer for The Hope Group and Parker was slim, but he did say that when a situation arises where he needed something that he couldn’t get, he would give me a call. He thanked me for the information.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No, my first call wasn’t exactly exciting, but I did learn a lot from it. I learned that it never hurts to inform the customer and get your name out there and that it’s always important to get all of the information you can about the customer before you get too far into talking about products. Now, it’s on to the next face to face.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-5053510622217353872016-03-21T11:59:00.002-07:002016-03-21T13:19:26.770-07:00Tales from the Traveling Rep: Introduction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.3281px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOztgND_rBA/VvA4qR_xVXI/AAAAAAAAAHM/xEJ5osX3nEIhaJMOywA88to_IHA-_xu4A/s1600/Kelly-Joe.JPG" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Joe Kelly</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;"><em>Fluid Connector Specialist</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;calibri&quot;;">Parker Hannifin</span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"></div></div><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi, my name is Joe Kelly. I’m a Parker Sales Rep and Fluid Connector Specialist in training. For the next few months I will be making sales calls on behalf of The Hope Group as a part a yearlong training program with Parker. I’ll be documenting my experiences along the way, here on The Hope Group’s Parker Store Blog.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">A little bit about me: I have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Drexel University in Pennsylvania, and I began working for Parker this past summer after graduation. While working for Parker I have visited 14 states, 10 Parker Divisions, and six Parker manufacturing facilities. I have met countless new people and I have learned all about Parker’s Fluid Connector Products.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">As part of my training I attended product schools at each of the six Parker Fluid Connector Divisions:&nbsp;</span></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tube Fittings Division</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Hose Products Divisions</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Fluid System Connectors</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Quick Couplings Division.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Industrial Hose Division</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">Parflex Division</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">At each school I got an in-depth look at the division’s scope of products, applications, manufacturing, and most importantly to my future role I was able to meet key individuals at each division. I spent the most time at Tube Fittings Division where I worked with everyone from Customer Service Representatives and Product Sales Managers to Engineers, and Lab Technicians. It has been a crazy six months and I’ve learned a lot, but through orientation and extensive technical training in fluid connectors, I am now getting ready to hit the road on my own to represent Parker and The Hope Group.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">To get things started, let me tell you about my first month at The Hope Group. When I arrived at The Hope Group back in late January I had no idea what to expect. Since then, I have travelled with THG sales people, worked in the Hose Shop and Warehouse, and spent time working in the Manchester Parker Store with Scott Levesque and Jim St. Clair.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I got to The Hope Group – Manchester branch, I had only crimped hoses in training, so I was nervous to be crimping hoses that would be used in the real world. The first hose that came through the door after I arrived was a failed hose from a bucket truck. Scott told me to grab the hose, and make a new one. I knew that the customer was going to rely on the hose to operate efficiently and safely. Scott watched me throughout the process, catching me when I almost put on the fittings without marking the proper insertion depth. Scott was there to make sure I followed all of the proper procedures and explained why things were done the way they are. When I was finished I checked to make sure the crimps were in spec, and as I saw that the crimp diameter was inside the appropriate range, I prepared to Ultra-Clean™ the hose and hand it over to the customer. I really enjoyed my time in the store, and by the end of the week, I had a much better knowledge of the process and a good start on learning part numbers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next time, I’ll be reviewing my experiences travelling with The Hope Groups Fluid Connector sales team and what it was like to make my first customer visit by myself.</span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-12665047168780131642015-12-29T08:45:00.000-08:002015-12-30T06:54:03.936-08:00We Are Pleased to Feature Racor and Velcon Filtration<div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.3281px;"><br /><a href="http://parkerstores.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="drew-swanton-parker-store" border="0" src="http://www.theparkerstore.com/images/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" height="53" width="53" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drew Swanton</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DSwanton@TheHopeGroup.com</span></div><div style="line-height: 21.3281px;"></div></div><br />Through its partnership with Parker, The Hope Group is pleased to announce the introduction of the Racor and Velcon line of filtration products, including the one-piece design <u><b>Racor SNAPP</b></u> filter, a small, quick-service outboard engine filter that is 99 percent effective in separating water and solid contamination from marine and diesel fuels. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Our customers ask about filtration all the time. Inadequate fuel filtration can cause damage to the engine and result in costly repairs. Now that we are stocking high-performing filtration by Racor you can expect to prevent many of these issues and extend the life of your engine. While upgrading to a premium fuel filter water separator can come with a sticker shock, the protection it offers your engine translates into an overall cost-savings.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YbzpAMLzZs0/VoK3VjNZ8dI/AAAAAAAAAFY/c7mG2VaS1gs/s1600/racor-snapp.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YbzpAMLzZs0/VoK3VjNZ8dI/AAAAAAAAAFY/c7mG2VaS1gs/s400/racor-snapp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">As the temperature drops, more water is freed up where it can cause engine problems.&nbsp; Free water can cause filter plugging, holes in fuel tanks, and fuel injector failures. These problems are more common as the temperature drops because the fuel’s saturation point also decreases and it will hold less dissolved water. Free water can also freeze and impede fuel flow in cold temperatures. Diesel fuel holds more moisture than gasoline, and biodiesel holds even more than ULSD, so engines running on these types of fuels are the most at risk when the filtration system has inadequate water separation or a low-quality filter is being used. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><h4><b>OEM Quality Material</b></h4><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Where competitors may offer a cheaper alternative, they lack the original equipment specifications that you want for your filter. Racor uses the same media and materials as OEM’s in both original equipment and replacement filters. Some copy filters even contain banned substances in the canister coating and plating. Racor guarantees that their canisters contain no banned substances and they undergo extreme salt spray and climatic condition validating for integrity.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bsqCe-mid3w/VoK3jNUbFKI/AAAAAAAAAFk/Q8Ui92sWl8c/s1600/racor-competitor.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bsqCe-mid3w/VoK3jNUbFKI/AAAAAAAAAFk/Q8Ui92sWl8c/s400/racor-competitor.jpg" width="400" /></a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Most competitor copies use a low quality media which performs poorly and can clog 70 percent sooner than Racor media.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">If the construction is shoddy, unfiltered fuel may bypass internally or leak through seals and reach the engine, which Racor addresses by using high-quality materials and adopting high production standards. The heavy-duty, high-impact nylon construction bowl is designed from a unique durable clear plastic with high clarity, excellent UV protection, low and high temperature resistance, and is impervious to all fuel types. It is tested to resist damage from impact, pressure spiking and corrosion. Fuel can leak through poor quality seals that crack or harden in cold weather, which is why the pump diaphragms and seals are rated for operating temperatures of -40 to +255 degrees Fahrenheit. Racor uses high quality automotive grade gaskets and seals such as NBR, HNBR, and Viton® which are compatible with B20 bio-diesel in addition to traditional marine and diesel fuels.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bhKNN5qUVjk/VoK3qzH5kGI/AAAAAAAAAFw/lfhK4Quii8o/s1600/racor-three-step-process.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bhKNN5qUVjk/VoK3qzH5kGI/AAAAAAAAAFw/lfhK4Quii8o/s400/racor-three-step-process.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the best features of the SNAPP filter is that it is so easy to use and maintain. Simply snap it into the stainless steel mounting bracket and attach the quick connect fittings. No tools are required to service it. To change a dirty filter, you just squeeze the quick-release tabs and pivot the filter forward. When done, you snap it back into place. The replacement filter’s one-piece bonded construction gives you a complete kit with all the seals. This means no fiddling around with replacement seals that are easy to lose. <o:p></o:p></div><h4><br /><b>Aquabloc® Technology</b></h4><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Racor SNAPP filter’s ability to separate damaging free water from fuel comes from its proprietary Aquabloc® technology that meets or exceeds water removal and particle efficiency requirements for OEM fuel injection systems. The Aquabloc® media is a blend of high-grade cellulose compounded with engineered fibers, and a special chemical treatment. Water will not cling to the filter, Aquabloc® repels it.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cUmwDh4zLew/VoK32MzD9-I/AAAAAAAAAF8/2GD1v6kypZ0/s1600/racor-turbine-filter.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cUmwDh4zLew/VoK32MzD9-I/AAAAAAAAAF8/2GD1v6kypZ0/s400/racor-turbine-filter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s how it works: As fuel enters, it spirals causing heavier molecules such as water droplets and large particulates to fall to the bottom of the bowl. Smaller water droplets bead up on the sides of internal components and the filter element surface until they are large enough and fall into the bowl as well. What’s especially good is the filters not only remove asphaltenes, varnishes, algae, dirt, gums, rust and other tiny solids, they are also waterproof, so they remain effective longer, saving you money. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Micron ratings of 2, 10 and 30 are all readily available. For convenience, the end caps of all elements are color-coded: <span style="color: red;">Red </span>= 30 micron, primary filtration; <span style="color: #0070c0;">Blue</span><span style="color: #00b0f0;"> </span>= 10 micron, secondary filtration; and <span style="color: #806000; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 128;">Brown </span>= 2 micron, final filtration. The top cap also includes a handle for easy servicing and an emergency filter bypass button if things get hairy.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqg0ijnmXco/VoK4BUPif3I/AAAAAAAAAGI/e3BGjM3jLqU/s1600/racor-filter.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqg0ijnmXco/VoK4BUPif3I/AAAAAAAAAGI/e3BGjM3jLqU/s320/racor-filter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">For serious sailors, Racor offers the Turbine Series, an ultra-heavy-duty, high-capacity water separation and fuel filtration duplex unit to offer mariners the peace-of-mind of having a clean filter in reserve. Rough seas can stir up tank sediment which will quickly clog a single filter. With the simple turn of a valve you have a clean filter back on-line and are free to service the clogged filter. All with the engine still running. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Offering the most complete, efficient, and reliable engine protection available symbolizes Racor’s commitment to the science of filtration. The Turbine Series is rivaled by no other although many may attempt to imitate its rugged capabilities. Models that include an aluminum bowl or stainless steel shield meet ASTM FS1201 certification, are UL-listed, American bureau of Shipping, Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, ISO 10088, and USCG accepted. Did we miss any? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For more information on what we have to offer and prices to please contact one of our customer service representatives at The Hope Group: Nathan Miller:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nmiller@thehopegroup.com">nmiller@thehopegroup.com</a>; Drew Swanton: <a href="mailto:dswanton@thehopegroup.com">dswanton@thehopegroup.com</a>; or you can call our ParkerStore at 207-774-6266. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-78530255956621267852014-08-22T05:55:00.000-07:002014-08-22T05:55:23.051-07:00Our Rental Program Saves You Time and Money<br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.328125px;"><a href="http://parkerstores.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="drew-swanton-parker-store" border="0" src="http://www.theparkerstore.com/images/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" height="53" width="53" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drew Swanton</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DSwanton@TheHopeGroup.com</span></div><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><br /></em></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal">Here at THG Corporation, we have an excellent array of rental equipment from portable hydraulic crimpers, oil filtration systems, and hand‐crank tube benders. While outright buying this equipment can be costly a daily or weekly rental can be just the thing for a short‐term project.<br /><br />I will start with some of our hydraulic crimpers:<span style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2rzH_9N41A/U_c7OAGqFoI/AAAAAAAAAEg/emPFSTdCY7c/s1600/karrykrimp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2rzH_9N41A/U_c7OAGqFoI/AAAAAAAAAEg/emPFSTdCY7c/s1600/karrykrimp.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">KarryKrimp</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Our most common rental crimper is the ‐ the Karrykrimp, which is the ideal crimper for on the job&nbsp;</span>crimps and emergency situations. The Karrykrimp can be used with a hand style pump for locations without electrical access, or a small, lightweight power unit can be plugged into any standard power outlet to provide a quick and easy crimping system. This crimper is good for hoses up to 1‐1/4” ID (2 wire braided hose) or 5/8” ID (4 wire spiral hose)<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-418UGfq9w/U_c7OPagLBI/AAAAAAAAAEc/437WURniQk4/s1600/karrykrimp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-418UGfq9w/U_c7OPagLBI/AAAAAAAAAEc/437WURniQk4/s1600/karrykrimp2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">KarryKrimp 2</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />This unit is a more powerful version of the Karrykrimp, with the ability to crimp a much wider range of those series. The karrykrimp 2 can handle up to 1‐1/4”, 2 and 4 wire hose, and it can even crimp up to 1”, 6 wire hose. While it is double to weight of its smaller cousin, the karrykrimp 2 is still very portable for what its capabilities are.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmCZSE3XOiQ/U_c7NW1AYhI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/i6-s_I7AauY/s1600/MiniKrimp-(Air-over-hydraulic).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mmCZSE3XOiQ/U_c7NW1AYhI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/i6-s_I7AauY/s1600/MiniKrimp-(Air-over-hydraulic).jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">MiniKrimp (Air over hydraulic)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The MiniKrimp is the best portable crimper on the market. By utilizing a one‐piece high strength cast aluminum frame, the MiniKrimp is light, robust, and highly corrosion resistant. This crimper features an all‐in‐one unit that operates with as little as 60psi air pressure.<br /><br />These are just come of the models that we offer for rental. We also have some heavier duty bench mountable crimpers that are good for long‐term and ongoing projects; however they are not nearly as portable as the ones I previously mentioned.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2q2M5zUhbMQ/U_c7NdCKPnI/AAAAAAAAAEk/TQfDMiJaPXY/s1600/Guardian-Filter%E2%80%90-Portable-Oil-Filtration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2q2M5zUhbMQ/U_c7NdCKPnI/AAAAAAAAAEk/TQfDMiJaPXY/s1600/Guardian-Filter%E2%80%90-Portable-Oil-Filtration.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Guardian Filter‐ Portable Oil Filtration</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The guardian portable filtration system is a pump/motor combination designed for conditioning and transferring petroleum based and water emulsion fluids. The guardian circulates and “polishes” fluid in your existing system to reduce the contamination to an acceptable level.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5rdEygSbM5k/U_c7NQx7-uI/AAAAAAAAAEM/L94yFvqFhts/s1600/420---424-Tube-Bender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5rdEygSbM5k/U_c7NQx7-uI/AAAAAAAAAEM/L94yFvqFhts/s1600/420---424-Tube-Bender.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">420 / 424 Tube Bender</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The Parker Exactol Tube Benders are probably the most versatile bench benders available today. Built for easy manual bending of copper, brass, aluminum, steel and stainless steel tubes to exact tolerances, the 400 Series benders are also compact and portable to any area for service use where a vise is available. A variety of tools can be used with these benders for all types of bending: close bend radius blocks, mandrels for thin wall tubes, bench mounting adapters and more.<br /><br />For more information on what have to offer and prices please contact me!<br /><a href="mailto:dswanton@thehopegroup.com">dswanton@thehopegroup.com</a> or you can call me direct at 508‐351‐2710.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-42304489379807083192014-02-17T11:38:00.000-08:002014-02-17T11:38:42.601-08:00Compressed Natural Gas [CNG] Growing As Alternative to Costly Gasoline Usage<br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.328125px;"><a href="http://parkerstores.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="drew-swanton-parker-store" border="0" src="http://www.theparkerstore.com/images/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" height="53" width="53" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drew Swanton</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DSwanton@TheHopeGroup.com</span></div><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><br /></em></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal">You have probably noticed that compressed natural gas [CNG] has taken off as an alternative to gasoline for transportation fleets such as buses, waste removal trucks, and long-haul trucking. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The worldwide production of CNG has been growing at almost an exponential rate with a lot of other countries converting a large number of personal vehicles to gas too. At The Hope Group we have recognized this growing industry and have the means to set you up with everything you need to get your state of the art CNG station going.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uc-OjHrjixQ/UwJkoqwUrTI/AAAAAAAAADA/Q_odhmZgOsM/s1600/natural-gas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uc-OjHrjixQ/UwJkoqwUrTI/AAAAAAAAADA/Q_odhmZgOsM/s1600/natural-gas.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For those of you who don’t know much about CNG, it is basically compressed methane gas that can be used as a cheaper fuel replacement for gasoline and propane with less undesirable side effects of the combustion process (i.e. harmful exhaust fumes such as CO2, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, etc.) CNG also releases more than 1.5x the amount of energy than standard gasoline but because it is a gas (not to be confused with a <i>liquefied</i> gas) more storage space is required.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Because of the storage requirements early usage was mostly limited to municipalities who had the means to fund an expensive storage system. Now that CNG has become more common and the price of storing and transferring has become cheaper it is a great way to save money on gasoline and diesel. Current CNG prices are around half the cost of standard oil based fuel prices and remember- you get more bang for your buck from a GGE (gasoline gallon equivalent) of CNG than you do with regular fuel.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IeZI8yq4gDg/UwJk2pUUEMI/AAAAAAAAADI/t5a01VOyT08/s1600/natural-gas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IeZI8yq4gDg/UwJk2pUUEMI/AAAAAAAAADI/t5a01VOyT08/s1600/natural-gas2.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">CNG storage tanks on a personal vehicle in the spare wheel well.<o:p></o:p></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />As a Parker distributor we can provide certified CNG hose assemblies for your vehicle, transfer station and pumping station. We also stock plenty of stainless steel tubing, fittings and flex metal hose to get your CNG station going fast. If you want to know more about our capabilities please visit our website at <a href="http://www.cnghoseassemblies.com/">www.cnghoseassemblies.com</a>or feel free to contact me via e-mail @ <a href="mailto:dswanton@thehopegroup.com">dswanton@thehopegroup.com</a> .</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-36873580938907273072014-01-04T08:39:00.000-08:002014-01-04T08:39:42.750-08:00Partek Defense Sleeve<br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.328125px;"><a href="http://parkerstores.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="drew-swanton-parker-store" border="0" height="53" src="http://www.theparkerstore.com/images/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" width="53" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drew Swanton</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span></div><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DSwanton@TheHopeGroup.com</span></div><div style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><br /></em></span></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">Continuing with the trend of last month’s blog on preventative hose maintenance, I am going to introduce the brand-new Partek Defense sleeve that Parker is now offering. &nbsp;No matter what you do, chances are at some point a hose will fail and how nice would it be to be able to contain some of the mess when that does happen…(Drumroll please) Now you can!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ctvufuh0FZ8/Usg4UVfQ-jI/AAAAAAAAACw/n0CSOUQr1gk/s1600/hose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ctvufuh0FZ8/Usg4UVfQ-jI/AAAAAAAAACw/n0CSOUQr1gk/s1600/hose.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">Designed for the safety of personnel who are using equipment in close proximity to the machine itself, Partek Defense is a great way to protect your equipment, personnel and job site from a high pressure hose burst. The defense sleeve is able to contain a hose burst of up to 12,000 psi, which should handle most hydraulic applications. It comes in 1/4" &nbsp;through 3/4" (I.D.) for most series of hose that Parker offers. The defense sleeve is also great for areas where an oil spill could have high repercussions and possible EPA fines, such as a marine environment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iLSmCHMY6d4/Usg3-FPAuMI/AAAAAAAAACo/s6xlfEJwkVk/s1600/explosion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iLSmCHMY6d4/Usg3-FPAuMI/AAAAAAAAACo/s6xlfEJwkVk/s1600/explosion.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 21.328125px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">See this is what happens when you don’t use the Partek Defense Sleeve</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 21.328125px;">Now do not confuse the Partek sleeve with an abrasion sleeve. If you use the Partek sleeve like an abrasion sleeve it will not work the way it was designed. If you want abrasion resistance AND the hose burst protection I would suggest using two sleeves, the Partek sleeve and another one over it to handle any abrasion issues you might have. &nbsp;Using the Partek sleeve for abrasion resistance will weaken the sleeve anywhere it rubs and can compromise the energy burst containment. Overall the Partek Defense sleeve is another way to save time, money and another of your customer’s lawns.</span></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-67505220027527574492013-10-30T10:12:00.000-07:002013-10-30T10:12:11.517-07:00Preventative Hose Maintenance<br /><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.328125px;"><a href="http://parkerstores.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="drew-swanton-parker-store" border="0" height="53" src="http://www.theparkerstore.com/images/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" width="53" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />Drew Swanton</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span><br /><br /><br />Determining whether or not to change out an old hose on a fluid system sounds like it should be something straightforward, if the hose leaks replace it right? Obviously, but why wait until it leaks to repair or replace? I know a lot of people go by “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But let me ask you this, if you saw exposed wire on your vehicle tire, how quickly would want to replace it? Hopefully right away, the same goes for hoses.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPtVVUprb50/UnE8gDyl-OI/AAAAAAAAACI/VV5cH-gUfXU/s1600/tire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPtVVUprb50/UnE8gDyl-OI/AAAAAAAAACI/VV5cH-gUfXU/s1600/tire.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Should be able to get another 5,000 miles out of this bad boy<br /><o:p></o:p></span></i></div></td></tr></tbody></table>While working at the retail counter I have been exposed to a lot of different examples of hoses that should have been replaced well before they were slapped on my counter in a leaky, oily mess. &nbsp;A small leak on a hydraulic circuit can lead to many different problems; potential pump failure if the leak goes unnoticed for a period of time, bad hysteresis, and of course the oil spill itself can be very damaging and sometimes costly to clean up. &nbsp;So how do we know when to do preventative maintenance on a hose? Really the only and best way is a physical examination.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o79zxh4ZS1g/UnE8c0B9CwI/AAAAAAAAAB4/0KFnNJAaL7s/s1600/surgeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o79zxh4ZS1g/UnE8c0B9CwI/AAAAAAAAAB4/0KFnNJAaL7s/s1600/surgeon.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whoa! Wrong physical.<br /></span></i></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Because you should do a physical inspection, and I can’t reiterate this enough, by <b>no means</b>inspect the hose while the system is running. If you do have a leak, even if it is a pin-prick, and you run your hand over a system that has thousands of PSI working pressure you can cause great bodily harm and even <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>death. &nbsp;While examining your hose you should check for any signs of exposed wires (or fiber), places where the hose is rubbing, rubber that is cracked, flaking or decayed, and rust on the ends where the hose is connected.&nbsp; Preventative maintenance can save you time and money, because nobody wants to have a machine down while on the job, particularly your customer who you just emptied 5 gallons of hydraulic oil on their lawn.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acUufoj-R00/UnE8e13khWI/AAAAAAAAACA/1aNaJ9uSbO0/s1600/water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acUufoj-R00/UnE8e13khWI/AAAAAAAAACA/1aNaJ9uSbO0/s1600/water.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><i>OK</i></span><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, so maybe that’s more than 5 gallons</span></i></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">So how often should you check your hoses? Well again this depends on several factors; how often do you use the machine? Where is the machine kept? Do you have it exposed to the weather outside or is it protected in a garage away from the sun and elements? These factors all contribute to hose longevity. If you are finding that certain hoses wear out quicker than others it might be a good idea to get nylon, plastic, or steel hose wrap to protect it even further to get the most out of your hose. If you aren't sure you should replace your hose take it off and bring it down to one of our Parker store locations, and our professionals will be sure to take care of you.</div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-74963715422852086312013-10-04T09:14:00.000-07:002013-10-04T10:02:07.071-07:00Parker’s E-Z Form Is Amazingly Flexible<div class="Style1"><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.328125px;"><br /><a href="http://parkerstores.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="drew-swanton-parker-store" border="0" height="53" src="http://www.theparkerstore.com/images/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" width="53" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />Drew Swanton</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 21.328125px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><br /></em></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><br /></i></span>If you haven’t heard about this new product from Parker, you will find that it is amazingly flexible. We are now stocking the Parker E-Z Form™ at our South Portland and Lewiston, Maine, and Weymouth, Mass. Locations.</div></div><br /><div class="Style1">We are very excited to offer this new state of the art industrial hose, which comes in sizes from 1/2” to 4” ID.&nbsp; This is a general service hose with an amazingly flexible and non-kink style. Literally you can tie this in knots and it won’t kink! <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKh5OL7JR1s/Uk7oXHOIyiI/AAAAAAAAABc/xiWh7bGtbzo/s1600/E-ZForm-10-3-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KKh5OL7JR1s/Uk7oXHOIyiI/AAAAAAAAABc/xiWh7bGtbzo/s200/E-ZForm-10-3-2013.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No kinks, no problems… who’s going to untie it though?</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="Style1">The E-Z form™ hose is perfect for use on mobile and industrial equipment; it’s specifically engineered to handle oil, air, water, fuel and some coolants. This hose is designed for applications that require the most intense bends without affecting full flow rates.&nbsp; The secret of the flexibility comes from the special corrugated Greek cover, where the grooves in it allow for the extreme bends.</div><div class="Style1"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0evvnpRMnFs/Uk7oZ4WCO9I/AAAAAAAAABk/_34lpover5Q/s1600/E-ZForm-10-3-2013b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0evvnpRMnFs/Uk7oZ4WCO9I/AAAAAAAAABk/_34lpover5Q/s200/E-ZForm-10-3-2013b.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Groovy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></td></tr></tbody></table>We carry both series that Parker offers in house, the general service (7395) and oil resistant/fuel transfer hose (7219). With length availability ranging from one foot to a three hundred foot reel, we can make sure you have the right hose and length for the job. This hose is a great replacement for expensive factory pre-formed hoses that are usually inherent with tight bend applications.&nbsp; It also can save you time from ordering by replacing the pre-formed hose with a cut-length of E-Z Form™.</div><div class="Style1"><br /></div><div class="Style1"></div><div class="MsoNormal">For more information about this product or any general questions please contact me!&nbsp; E-mail or phone is great- you can even fax&nbsp;us.</div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-8630159294884951582013-08-28T11:43:00.002-07:002013-08-28T12:22:09.837-07:00The Parker Store Blog Is Up & Running Again<div class="Style1" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Welcome back to The Parker Store blog of The Hope Group. For new readers, my name is Drew Swanton and I will be writing a few words on a regular basis about things happening at The Parker Stores of New England. For returning readers, I am the new writer. Our previous writer, Lori, after receiving a lot of training here in New England with us has moved on to Tennessee for Parker. So, now you are stuck with me.</div><div class="Style1" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><div class="Style1" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Since this is my first post I’m going to start off with a little background information about myself. I’ve been with THG Corporation going on four years now and I started pretty much at the bottom.&nbsp; I was the shipper and receiver working out of our branch in Lewiston. When I first came into the position I had just finished working for a bank, and needless to say my expertise in the field of fluid power was little to none, but nonetheless I was happy to be working. As far as job duties were concerned I was the shipper but after all I was working in a hydraulic hose shop and was very visible to customers so learning to make hose assemblies was naturally the next step.</div><div class="Style1" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><br /></div><div class="Style1" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">After working for a few years at Lewiston, the position of store manager opened up in our South Portland branch and I was happy to take advantage of that opportunity. I’ve been here for a year now and it’s amazing how fast you learn when you need to. Everything I did in Lewiston was just a small part of what this company does and can do. Being successful here has all come down to hard work, a desire to learn and grow. So continuing with that trend my next jump after shipping and receiving to managing a fluid power store was to try blogging… It was an obvious choice.</div><br /><div class="Style1" style="line-height: 16.0pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;">Next issue will be a lot less about me and a lot more about you. I want you to feel free to write to us if you have a question, or to just chat. Write <a href="mailto:dswanton@thehopegroup.com">dswanton@thehopegroup.com</a>. Thanks.<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="Style1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border: medium none;"><a href="http://parkerstores.blogspot.com/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="drew-swanton-parker-store" border="0" height="53" src="http://www.theparkerstore.com/images/drew-swanton-parker-store.jpg" width="53" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Drew Swanton</span></strong></div><div style="border: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Parker Store Mgr.</em></span><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~</span></em></div></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-21430307142857107462011-11-21T08:47:00.000-08:002011-11-21T08:47:25.638-08:00The Hills of Tennessee<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The time has come. Parker has called me up and I will officially be leaving the The Hope Group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I will be moving on to cover a new territory in Tennessee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>It is truly a bittersweet feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The last 8 months I have spent working with The Hope Group has made them feel like my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This entire experience has been challenging, rewarding, and helped me grow professionally in ways that I probably don’t even understand yet. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reflecting on my time with The Hope Group I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to work for a company that so strongly believes in its employees and who gave me the freedom to make mistakes and go out on my own to learn how a true salesperson lives day to day life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have been given the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of a successful Parker distributor, all the while being under a complete umbrella of support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For every cold call made, door shut in my face, lead followed up on, quote generated, sale completed, and question that arose, which I had no idea what the answer was, The Hope Group was there to guide me along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The team around here has taught me what it takes to be a trusted and respected salesperson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Be honest, listen, have timely follow through, find the customers pain point and try to alleviate it, and when possible anticipate their needs before they even recognize that it is a need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The Hope Group has reinforced the concepts Parker taught us in basic training and showed how to apply the tools I have to real world applications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the door closes on this chapter of my career in sales, it is because of this experience that I can open the next door with confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The Hope Group has shown me what success looks like and where passion and hard work can get you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I appreciate every minute spent here and as I get ready to move on, I won’t say goodbye, but see you later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is just the beginning of what I hope to be a very exciting sales career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span><br /><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="Style1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" /></span></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lori Wessels</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parker Hannifin<br /><em>Product Support&nbsp;Specialist</em></span><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~</span></em></div></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-18557172431041323612011-08-11T05:25:00.000-07:002011-08-11T06:59:54.387-07:00Complete Solutions<div class="Style1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently at The Hope Group we had the pleasure of having two representatives of Parker Hannifin’s Tube Fittings Division stop in for a visit.&nbsp; One of the presentations that they gave was about Parker’s new facility/product line to support CPS, <a href="http://www.parker.com/portal/site/PARKER/menuitem.c17ed99692643c6315731910237ad1ca/?vgnextoid=119f55e6c8a5e210VgnVCM10000048021dacRCRD&amp;vgnextfmt=EN" target="blank">Complete Piping Solutions</a>.&nbsp; The CPS product line is a perfect example of how The Hope Group and Parker are similarly aligned in their business objectives.&nbsp; Providing full system solutions is the goal of both companies, keeping the value of what we do at a high level and the dirty word commodity out of everyone’s mouth.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are a hundred different manufacturers of fittings, hose, etc…, and there are a thousand different distributors that make sure these products are put in the hands of the end user.&nbsp; So, how do you set yourself apart and show the customer that you are the person to buy from?&nbsp; Value. You need to show the value of your services to the customer. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having the ability to provide complete system solutions is a prime example of adding value to any customer’s project.&nbsp; Parker’s Parflange F37 product range includes certified components capable of providing non-welded piping systems up to 273 mm with wall thicknesses to 25 mm (10" x 1"). This product line is supported domestically by the new state of the art CPS facility located in Houston, TX, which is one of the only facilities in the world with the ability to cold bend and manufacture 10 inch piping assemblies.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Hope Group’s sales and engineering team work alongside the team at Parker to determine out how they can best utilize this unique technology to support its customer’s initiatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Innovative systems such as the one described here show Parker’s dedication toward continuous improvement and the quick adaptation of these new technologies show why distributors such as The Hope Group continue to be successful.&nbsp; </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div class="Style1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" /></span></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lori Wessels</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parker Hannifin<br /><em>Product Support&nbsp;Specialist</em></span><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~</span></em></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-6723716283690549172011-07-15T10:23:00.000-07:002011-07-15T10:24:29.138-07:00Gatekeeper! (How to be the Key Master)<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Me:</strong><em> Good morning, how are you?</em> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Gatekeeper:</strong> <em>Good, how may I help you?</em></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Me:</strong> <em>I am here to see John Smith please.</em></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Gatekeeper:</strong> <em>Was he expecting you?</em></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Me:</strong> <em>I left him a voicemail letting him know I would be stopping in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My name is Lori Wessels with The Hope Group on behalf of Parker Hannifin, if he has a couple minutes please?</em></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Gatekeeper:</strong><em><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;</span>Sorry, it’s company policy, you need an appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Would you like to leave something for him?</em></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Me:</strong> <em>Thank you, if you could give him this I will give him a call to follow up next week, thank you. </em></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This topic was bound to come up sooner than later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The “Gatekeeper”; who they are, what they do, and how they make my job a little more challenging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>That isn’t fair to say 100 percent of the time, if used properly, the gatekeeper can provide you with valuable information that you can utilize in eventually getting past them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the last couple of weeks while making sales calls on behalf of The Hope Group I have done my fair share of “drop-ins” aka cold calls. Many times scenarios like the one above ensue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What I have had to learn to adapt to is how I can use what this person has to offer to get as much information as I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It should go without saying that being polite and putting on a smile must be your starting point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Be honest, I can’t pretend I have an appointment if I don’t, but by giving them the information I do have such as the person’s name, their department/title, letting them know I left a voicemail gives the illusion that the relationship is more established than it actually is. If the person is unavailable (unwilling) to meet with me, I ask follow-up questions, listen to the cues given (if any) by the gatekeeper. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Me:</strong> <em>You know I have had a hard time getting a hold of him; is there a time of day that he is typically at his desk?</em></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><strong>Gatekeeper:</strong><em> He only works until 3:00.<br /></em></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By gathering this information and asking these types of questions not only are you able to strengthen your relationship with the gatekeeper, who ultimately can help you get in the door, but you are increasing your chances of getting the person you are looking for on the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It allows for better call preparation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If I know he only works until 3:00, I can assume that any time after lunch is probably pretty busy for him; morning might be a better time to try and reach him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Information pertaining to the person you are trying to reach isn’t the only thing the gatekeeper has to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They have a wealth of information about what the company does as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If I don’t know much about what a potential customer does, I can ask them about the business in general to get a better idea of what they do. I may find out that they know the name Parker Hannifin, and from what they know they do order some fittings, tubing, hose, valves etc...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In addition as I tell them more about what I do, there have been instances where I discover I should be trying to meet with a whole different person/department than what I originally thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is universally true that sales people dread the gatekeeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>However, they will always exist and it is how you learn to adapt and utilize the person that is in front of you that will ultimately help you to get in front of the person that can help turn a target account into a customer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br /><div class="Style1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" /></span></a><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lori Wessels</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parker Hannifin<br /><em>Product Support&nbsp;Specialist</em></span><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~</span></em></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-49282728669142155272011-07-11T06:43:00.000-07:002011-07-11T06:43:32.077-07:00Independence - My Interpretation<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the spirit of the 4<sup>th</sup> of July and celebrating our nations independence I thought about how that word applies directly to the direction my career has taken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Outside sales requires a heavy reliance on the support system around you, but just as much it is about learning how to hone your independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I am quickly learning how much of my week is dependent on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How I choose to take that freedom and turn it into something that equals success is part of my new daily challenge.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The freedom of this career is a big part of what drew me to it. I like that I am going to get out of each day, week, or month, what I put into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In order to make each day as productive as possible I started looking at my personal life to see how I would most effectively mix my professional life into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Knowing that I am not a great morning person I realized that by scheduling the majority of meetings in the morning gave me more motivation to get my day going and start with a high energy level that would carry me through the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>On days when I have more meetings in the morning, and do follow-up work in the late afternoon, I feel as if I accomplish more than when the schedule is vice versa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This isn’t always realistic based on potential customer schedules, but having that self awareness is helpful on the “off” days as well to keep focused and on track. The worst thing I could do is feel like I am taking advantage of the freedom entrusted to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been given independence in how I spend time creating my schedule, what calls I prioritize, and how I take it upon myself to continue to improve my product and industry knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>To be successful in all of these aspects there needs to be a certain degree of self motivation, of fight, to want it and to give 100 percent for every opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If I don’t want to go on meeting; if I don’t want to make the phone call, there is nobody looking over my shoulder to make sure I do. However, that is one of the greatest revelations I have had since starting this, is that I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">want</b> to do it, everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The sense of freedom, trust, respect, and support that I feel from Parker and The Hope Group is what gives me the ability to be independent and (fingers crossed) successful at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br /><div class="Style1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Lori Wessels</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parker Hannifin<br /><em>Product Support&nbsp;Specialist</em></span><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~</span></em></div></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-50473151523409253312011-06-20T07:27:00.000-07:002011-06-20T07:27:40.589-07:00Victory (Go Bruins!)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This week I completed my first order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>From initial phone call, to face to face meeting, qualifying product needs, submitting quote, receiving order, and final delivery of order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I can’t say how Tim Thomas of the Bruins felt when he took that MVP trophy, but I can tell you that I felt nothing short of victorious when I knew that order was delivered to the customer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This order was not an earth shattering dollar amount nor will this be a regular need for the customer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What gave me this feeling of satisfaction was that I knew we had helped them solve their problem while providing the best possible customer service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was also proof to me that the process is working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It started as a marketing lead, generated through Parker, and passed along to The Hope Group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The Hope Group’s internal marketing department then screened the lead and passed it along to me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I then made a phone call, evaluated what resources I needed to gather to support him and set up a meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I went to visit the account alongside the Parker territory manager where we put together a bill of materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Working with one of the Parker Store managers through The Hope Group we put together a quote that afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>From there I worked with the customer answering some follow-up questions and making sure that they felt the support necessary to keep moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then it happened, I received the email containing a PO, submitted it, and the order was put together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then working with The Hope Group’s outside sales representative we personally delivered the order to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This was as text book an example as you can get on how a timely lead follow-up can lead to business.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For two months now I have watched the Bruins play in each series, fighting their way into the Stanley Cup finals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>With every steal, goal, game-win there was a celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>As I started my journey with The Hope Group, spending time with every department and now working in the field, I realized I too was celebrating the small victories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Without every small victory you won’t find your way to play in the big game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I will take the time to celebrate this success, learn from it, enjoy it, and then start back at the beginning to make it happen all over again. </span></div><div class="Style1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Lori Wessels</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parker Hannifin<br /><em>Product Support&nbsp;Specialist</em></span><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~</span></em></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686379951179791041.post-83384192899867141372011-06-10T11:25:00.000-07:002011-06-10T11:25:31.070-07:00REJECTED (Now I know I'm a salesperson)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me set the scene for you:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I walk into a potential customer for a meeting and am greeted by another employee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I tell them who I am to meet with and….he’s not there; which is then immediately followed with a question/statement: “Did you have an appointment…Oh…I see only kind-of.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">REJECTED! This was the first time since beginning this process that walking into a situation I felt judged as a salesperson, not just a person.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I knew it would happen, in fact I expected it to happen earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I am also sure this will be far from the last time it happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Rejection is part of what you sign up for when you start a career in sales (I know that) but it doesn’t take away the sting of the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It wasn’t that the person I was supposed to meet wasn’t there; I understand that things come up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was the way that I could see their co-worker looking at me with a half smile (which may be an exaggeration, I am not sure) their body language saying, “You are just another sales person who thinks they can come in here and pull one over on us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It made me feel like a fool, like he didn’t believe that I had actually spoken to this person and we had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">agreed</i> upon a time to get together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I sat and waited for 10 minutes, then I left my card with the receptionist and said I would call back to reschedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It took those 10 minutes to pull myself together and realize that my time is just as valuable as their time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I reflected on how this situation affected me I thought of other times in my life outside of work I have felt rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Recently I had a very frustrating flight experience including cancellations, delays, you name it and it happened on this trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I called the airline to tell them my story and in return I was hoping to gain some additional frequent flier miles. (Who doesn’t like a free flight?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The first person I spoke with said flat-out that it wasn’t possible and the request was asking for too much. He said he would transfer me to another department; hold please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>During my hold time I thought about my request and determined that it was not outrageous and I adapted my style and tone with the next representative who almost immediately agreed with me. By the end of the conversation the miles were mine. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to the meeting that never was - I had two options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I could not call back and let this opportunity fall to the side, or I could make the call to reschedule and prove that this meeting was worth the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Having chosen to make the call I rescheduled the meeting for next week and I can’t wait to go back in there with my head held high and turn this opportunity into business for The Hope Group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My first taste of rejection was a reality check. When you hear “no” it is easy to walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What will set you apart and make you great is when you find out WHY they said no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It could be pricing, the wrong product, lead times, or as hard as it is to swallow, it could be you and your approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is when you understand the “why” that you are able to adjust and turn the next call into a YES!</span></div><br /></div><div class="Style1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://thehopegroup.com/images/Lori-Wessels-Parker.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Lori Wessels</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parker Hannifin<br /><em>Product Support&nbsp;Specialist</em></span><br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">~~</span></em></div></div>The New England ParkerStoreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07928757635124391642noreply@blogger.com0